Electrical signal-controlling device



Feb. 26 1924.

J. L. OKEEFE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL CONTROLLING DEVICE F1106 April 21 192s Ziwvenor.

Patented Feb. 26, 1924.

UNITED S TES 1,485,197 PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. exams, or MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF To KUTCHEU manner, or MERIDIAN, M SSISSIPPI.

ELECTRICAL SIGNAL-CONTROLIJNG DEVICE.

. Application filed April 21, 1923. Serial 1T0. 638,793.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES L. OKnnrs, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Meridian, county of Landerdale, State of I Mississippi, have invented an Improvement in Electrical Signal-Controlling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical controlling means for signals adapted to indil cate the speedat which an automobile is moving and has for its object to provide a means (which will cause the display of different signals automatically for the diflt'erent speeds, within predetermined degrees, at

which the automobile in connection with which it is used, is moving.

I,v accomplish this object in the manner" hereinafter described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred. embodiment of my invention is shown, and, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of said embodiment of my invention. V

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section at line 26 2-2 of Fig. 1.

V Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical view of the electrical connections employed in connect ion therewith.

In the drawing, aindicates a flexible shaft 80 which is driven from the transmission, or one of the front wheels of theyehicle to which it is attached, so that it will always be rotated at a speed corresponding .to the speed at which the vehicle is moving.

According to my invention, I rovide a frame bin which a vertical shaft 0 1s mounted, said shaft being driven by ears d and e from the shaft a, so that it is a ways rotated at a speed corresponding to the speed of o the latter.

A metal collar f is mounted on said shaft c and suitably insulated therefrom, and four radially disposed metal arms 9, g,-g, g are mounted in collar f 90 apart, as shown-1n Fig. 1. .A sleeve 72. is mounted on each arm 9, g, which are 'ada ted to slide freely thereon and a pair of w springs i are arranged at opposite sides of collar f to connect said sleeves. so A pair of metal sliders 7', or contact devices are mounted on, and freely movable on the arms g g, said sliders being connected to intermediate portions of the springs i, so that, when the shaft 0 is rotated at speed,

u the sliders will becaused to move outwardly on said arms by centrifugal action, and

against the action of the Springs 2', and will assume a position on said arms corresponding to the speed at which the car is travelmg.

An insulating plate Ia, having a horizontally disposed upper surface, is mounted beneath the sliders f and .is provided with a series of contact rings m, m, m, insulated each from the other and arranged concentrically with the shaft 0, the upper surfaces of said rings all being flush with, the said upper surface of the insulating plate.

The lower ends ofthe sliders are arranged to slide in contact with each of said rings, according to the radial position in which they may be held and binding posts n, n, n, are respectively connected to said rings. A contact "finger o is arranged on the plate In, in constant engagement with the collar f, and a binding post 'p is connected to said finger. 1

While the invention is not limited to the display of any particular number-0L signals, it is considered that the display of three different signals is sufiicient, under or dinary conditions, and, therefore, the ap paratus is shown as adapted for the display of this number of signals.

In the diagrammatical view of Fig. 3, three signals, designed to be placed at the rear end of the car, are indicated aselectric lamps of green, yellow and red,by the letters' G. Y. R., and, a Similar set of lamps Gr. Y. R. are indicated for the front end 0 the car. The signal circuit from the battery is connected to post 12, so that the slides j are in constant electrical connection therewith, through the arms 9 g ,.collar f and contact fin r 0, and'three branch circuits are provi ed which lead from the posts n, n, 11., through both sets of lamps G. Y.R. and are connected b the return wire to the battery in which a ight T, which it may be desi to have burn constantly, may be. placed.

With the above described arrangement when the car is stationary, or. when its speed is, for example, not more than 8 miles per hour, the sliders f will be in their initial positions and in "contact with the inner contact ring m, so that the circuit will be completed through the red light at the front and rear. If, for example, the speed is raised to a greater rate than 8 miles per hour, then the sliders will be carried by the centrifugal ac- 1 19 practically the instant the adjacent circuit is closed, so that one set of signals will always be showing at all speeds, or when the car is stationary.

It will be'apparent that the invention is not limited to theparticular form of signals described, as obviously, other formsof electrically operated signals might be employed in lieu thereof.

It will be further apparent that, with the above described device, the driver of a car following can instantly tell by the signal which is displayed, the approximate speed at which the car ahead is moving, and particularly if its speed is being reduced. Also, by

having the same signals displayed at the front end of the car it will be possible for traffic officers to determine the approximate speed at which'the car is approaching.

While means may be provided for cutting out any one circuit, it will not be possible for the driver to display the signal for a low speed when the car is travelling at a. higher speed.

I claim An electrical signal controlling device comprising a rotary shaft, a series of electrically disconnected contact rings of different diameter arranged concentrically with relation to the axis of said shaft and having fiat contact faces disposed in a plane perpendicular to said axis, two pairs of radially disposed guides mounted on said shaft in relatively right angular relation, a contact member slidably mounted on one pair of guides and movable thereon into electrical contact with the faces of said rings successively, sliders on the other pair of guides, a pair of transversely flexible springs securedoto each slider at one end, and to said contact members at the opposite end, for yieldingly restraining said members against the centrifugal action'of said shaft,

and means whereby independent electrical circuits may be closed through said members for each contact ring with which they may be in electrical contact.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

J AS. L. OKEEFE. 

